Forever After (5 page)

"There are too many good reasons not to feel it.  I don't need heartache in my life, Seth, and that's what I'd be asking for."

"Then there's nothing more to say."

She crossed her arms over her chest.  "No."

He eyed her body language.  "Hershey's not that big.  We might run into each other."

"I can handle it."

"Good.  So can I."  He turned and descended the porch steps.

  As Seth strode down the flagstone path toward his car, Darcy wondered why that sounded more like a promise than a good-bye.

CHAPTER THREE

Darcy critically examined her hands.  No dance partner would want to touch her if she didn't shape up her ragged fingernails.  She grabbed an emery board from her dresser and filed her nails smooth.  Stubborn distributor caps chipped them every time.  No use trying to let them grow.  She wondered how many bars of soap and bottles of hand lotion she used in a month.  She might not be able to keep a glamour nail length, but she could keep her hands looking as soft and feminine as any woman's.

She got satisfaction from working at the garage, hearing an engine idle smoothly after she'd made adjustments.  She was proud of her abilities and her business.  But because of working in a garage, she sought out activities and classes that made her feel feminine and pleased her aesthetic side--like this ballroom dancing class.  Last year she'd taken a semester of dress design, before that ballet, before that flower arranging.

Wanting to feel feminine tonight, Darcy dressed in an eyelet blouse with puffy sleeves and a calico wrap-around skirt instead of slacks.  Her legs were tan enough that she could go without pantyhose.  Her white sandals had a one-inch heel that didn't add much to her height but made her feel taller.

Seth Hallaran had stirred up womanly feelings and a need to feel pretty.  She'd thought about him often the last two days and wished...many things.  That he was an ordinary guy, that Hershey was his permanent home, that he wasn't representing Brad.  But wishing couldn't change reality.

By the time Darcy arrived at the Recreation Center, she was running late.  After registering at the desk, she hurried to the gym.  As she went in, the couple who were taking roll looked up from their clipboard speculatively.  Darcy supplied her name.

The female instructor nodded.  "Mr. Hallaran's partner."

Darcy's eyes flew wide open and she scouted the other people in the gym.  Then she spotted him.  He strode toward her casually, relaxed and handsome in a red and navy knit shirt and navy, double-pleated slacks.  Striking...debonair...she'd like to add a few less flattering words she'd learned from her brothers.

Anger swept over her and when he reached her side, she sputtered, "Why...how?"

He managed a Humphrey Bogart imitation.  "It's you and me, kid."  In a normal voice he added, "Boy, girl, boy, girl.  It worked out perfectly."

"And just who did you have to bribe?" she flared, regaining some of her composure.

His eyes glimmered merrily.  "Really, Darcy.  A lawyer resorting to bribery?  It's against the law."

An almost-kiss from him should be against the law.  Monday evening's close encounter had tormented her and given her insomnia.

He grinned at the speaking glance she threw his way and concluded matter-of-factly, "There's not much you can do about this unless you want to make a commotion and delay class.  Everybody's already paired off."

Darcy's eyes darted around the room looking for help from some quarter.  To spend an hour and a half in Seth's arms might make her want to stay there longer. 

The couple who were teaching the class began a preamble to their session.  Darcy said in a low voice, "You have me check-mated for now.  But this is only round one."

Seth didn't comment as the instructors expressed their pleasure in the size of the class--eight couples.  They could give individual guidance and maybe cover more territory.  They intended to teach the fox trot first.  Ready to begin, they posed in the standard ballroom position for the dance and asked the couples to do the same.

Seth nudged Darcy's arm.  "Lay your purse on the bench," he whispered in her ear.

When his breath swished across her cheek, she tingled all over.  Reluctantly, she put her purse on the bench, still wondering how she could escape Seth's clutches.  She almost smiled at her imagery--she was being melodramatic.  Sensing rather than hearing Seth behind her, she turned and found herself in his arms.  His right hand centered on her back below her shoulders and his left locked to hers, palm to palm, sending shivers up her arm.  She had no recourse but to reach her left hand up and let it lay on his shoulder.

They squared off toward each other but she gazed over her hand instead of into his eyes.  He didn't attempt to draw her close but allowed at least five inches between them to maintain position and balance.  They had no opportunity to converse as their teachers demonstrated the box step without music.  The couple instructed their students to lead with the balls of their feet, keeping their knees relaxed so they didn't bob or sway but could glide smoothly.  All couples attempted the pattern.

Darcy was tempted to stare at her feet so she didn't gaze into grey eyes that emphasized the warmth of Seth's hand on her back and her fingers tucked under his thumb.  Keeping her knees relaxed was the least of her worries.

His subtle cologne teased her senses as she said curtly, "You obviously know what you're doing.  I don't know what you intend to accomplish by taking this class."

"We'll talk about that as soon as you learn the basics of the fox trot."

Smug, complacent, playing his cards close to his chest.  Just like a lawyer.

Seth didn't give her time to think as he took her through the footwork of the dance.  Their teachers came over to them once, but seeing that Seth knew what he was doing, they went on to help another couple.  Finally they put a tape in the portable stereo and switched it on.  Seth guided Darcy in time to the music.  When she accidentally stepped on his docksider, she muttered an apology and felt the flush creeping into her cheeks.

He grinned.  "Relax.  The little bit of weight you carry wouldn't hurt my big toe."

She hated feeling gauche or manipulated.  "If my heel came down at just the right place..."

He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.  "You wouldn't."

She mustered a foreboding expression that said, "Try me."

His eyes lost their amused sparkle and he became serious.  "If you really don't want me here, I'll leave.  I'd hoped we could have some fun together.  I haven't had fun in a long time.  Have you?"

Darcy wasn't sure "fun" was what they'd have together.  But what really took her aback was the notion Seth would leave.  Was that a bluff or did he mean it?  "You'd actually leave?"

"Yes, if that's what you want."

She believed him.  He might be purposeful and persistent, but somehow she knew he was a man of integrity.  The problem was at this point she didn't know what she wanted.  It had been a long time since a man fascinated her as this one did.  Yet, there was Marsha...

He read her doubts.  "I promise we won't discuss Marsha, Brad, or Jenna.  And as for the rest, dance with me tonight.  Let's see how we get along."  His eyes glimmered with silver devils.  "Who knows?  You might find me irresistible!"

The corners of her mouth twitched up in spite of herself.  "No ego here," she muttered.

The song ended.  Unclasping Darcy's hand, Seth tilted her chin up.  His intense scrutiny made her feel something was out of place, as if her mascara had streaked or her bodice button was unfastened.

His forefinger traced her chin.  "Will you dance with me tonight?"

There was something about him that drew her like a bee to a ripe plum.  Why couldn't she enjoy dancing with him?  After all, it was just dancing.  He couldn't get any information if she didn't give it.  She answered, "We'll see how it goes."

Seth gave her a huge smile, as if she'd made his fondest wish come true or maybe more accurately as if he'd just met a challenge and won.  Was that how he saw her?  As a challenge?

He took Darcy in his arms again when another song began.  "What kind of music do you like to listen to?"

"Almost anything except hard rock and pure country."

"All time favorite?"

"Lennon and McCartney.  I think I have everything they ever did--together and separate.  How about you?"  She was eager to know more about him.

"I'm partial to Segovia and jazz."

Their instructors demonstrated a walking step that would help the dancers travel across the dance floor.  Darcy became accustomed to a different touch of pressure on her back, a slight shift in their hand position when Seth incorporated the variation.  They tried it a few times.  When she inadvertently misstepped, he caught her against him.  Her breasts pushed into his chest and as her nose scraped his shoulder, she could smell the fresh-washed aroma of his shirt but also the musky scent of his skin underneath.  As he held her for a long moment, the unfamiliarity of his body excited her and she backed away.  He didn't make a joking comment but resumed their position for dancing while she straight-jacketed her body's response.

Darcy's hand became clammy but Seth's was warm and dry.  Trying to dissipate the sexual tension crawling through her stomach, she chattered.  "I'm sure you're going to like Hershey once you get settled.  There's more entertainment in Philadelphia, but we have a great community theatre and..."

Seth's gaze quieted her.  "I like Hershey already."

She bit her lower lip.

When their teachers taught the basics of dipping, Darcy became woozy from the heat of Seth's body flush against hers, the impressive maleness of every hard muscle, the sensual lights in his grey eyes.  Instead of fearing, she began welcoming the sensations that made her feel zingingly alive.  It had been years since she'd been treated like a woman instead of a best buddy.  She liked the feeling.  Maybe Seth's accusation that she was a snob rang true.  She'd pigeon-holed him without giving him a chance.  Just because he was successful and sexy didn't mean he was a user the way Gary had been.

As Seth danced with Darcy, he was struck again by the enchanting color of her bright eyes, the faint dappling of freckles marching across her nose, her stunning hair, not quite the color of an Irish Setter's coat or the color of flame, but a golden-tinted titian somewhere in between.  She danced well with him in synchronized rhythm, smoothly and with little effort.

  With each minute he spent with her, he was sure signing up for this class to get to know her better had been the right move.  He couldn't remember ever wanting to "know" a woman.  Convenience was the usual route.  A convenient companion for a social gathering.  A suitable partner to have mutual needs met.  Though these days, those partners were few and far between because of his schedule and the complications that went with dating in the new millennium.  Many women didn't appreciate discussing their sexual history.  But if they wouldn't, they didn't get farther than dinner.  One thing he'd always been was cautious.

He avoided ties.  Loving hurt so he never thought in terms of "love."  But he did believe two people could enjoy each other if they both took equal responsibility and knew the score.

"Seth, why did you start practicing custody law?"

His gut tightened, but he answered calmly.  "I fell into it.  Custody comes up in divorce cases."

"Why did you decide to become a lawyer?"

For the same reason he decided to specialize in custody law.  He'd had a mother who only wanted to hold onto her son to save public face.  He'd had a father who'd loved him but didn't have access.  Seth never talked about that to anyone.  It made him feel vulnerable and he avoided that at all costs.

"A lawyer makes a good living.  And I like arguing.  How about you?  Why a garage?"

"It was my dad's."

"He was a mechanic?"

"Uh huh.  He worked for a new car dealership originally.  But he always wanted his own shop where he could really know his customers, repair rather than replace.  He didn't want to worry about pressure to sell parts or factory merchandizing methods."

"So quality and value has to combat thousands of dollars of advertising by manufacturers.  You must feel proud."

"I am.  Pops and his mechanics had to be skilled because the buck stopped with them, not a trademark.  I try to run the business the same way."

New-found respect for Darcy and her roots touched Seth.  "You said you have brothers.  They aren't involved?"

She laughed.  "Beyond getting their cars rebuilt, they had other interests.  Joel's a dentist.  David loves computers."

Darcy hadn't spoken of her mother.  Had she deserted her family or died?  That was too personal to ask, especially if he didn't want her poking in his past.  "So you run the garage alone?"

"I can handle it," she said impatiently as if she'd had to assure the world of that often.

Seth remembered the gutsy way she'd stood up to him and Pickering.  "Oh, I know you can."

"Are you making fun of me?"  A trace of mischief in her eyes told him she wasn't offended.

"Never," he swore.